Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman today admitted switching goalkeepers in the dying seconds of Tuesday's Carling Cup tie against Watford was a mistake.

Ian Dunbavin, who has featured in every league match so far this season, was substituted for on-loan keeper Rob Elliott in the 120th minute at Vicarage Road.

It was a move Coleman had already tried in their first Conference season in the FA Cup replay with Bournemouth, when Jon Kennedy came on for Jamie Speare.

While it worked back then, on Tuesday it failed.

And Coleman held his hands up to the error.

He said: "Looking at it now I made a mistake in changing the keepers but you live and die with these decisions.

"If I had the chance to do it all over again I think I'd stick with Dunbavin."

It was a gruelling trip to London and back with 120 minutes of football against Premiership opposition sandwiched in between.

And of course they lost in the most agonising of circumstances, with captain Peter Cavanagh and striker Paul Mullin both missing spot kicks after extra time.

But Coleman said there has been no ill effects from the cup exit and he stressed that tiredness would not be a factor as his squad make the relatively short journey to Field Mill to face Mansfield Town tomorrow.

He said: "I don't think there will be a problem. We're not going to dwell on the result.

"We've been working hard in training, the players will be bright and fresh, and I'm expecting them to go out all guns blazing on Saturday.

"I understand that travelling so far can take it out of you and it's not ideal.

"But what's done is done and we'll be trying our hardest to get a result."

Prior to the cup clash, Stanley were flying after two excellent wins over Wrexham and Boston at home.

But the Reds have still to record their first league win away from the Fraser Eagle stadium.

Coleman was hoping to put that right this weekend.

He said: "We're defending a lot better, particularly from set pieces.

"And we're a lot more organised. We're on a decent run just now and we've got to be looking to keep that going and get something from Mansfield."